The Real Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Intro
One of the greatest realities of humanity is the phrase “Out of sight, out of mind.” If there is not a constant reviewing or remembering, then things will absolutely leave our brain. Students tell me something after class, the moment I leave, it’s already gone.
Need: We need to be reminded about who Jesus is. Our hearts will forget. Our hearts will also add or takeaway from the true Jesus.
Main Idea: Know the real Jesus
Luke 9:7-17
Truth #1: Some are confused about Jesus (7-9)
Exp. This is coming off the heels of the disciples healing. Jesus has done a lot already, and word is getting to people. Namely Herod. Verse 7-8. Tetrarch = king. Perplexed = stunned. John raised from the dead? Elijah? He didn’t know Elijah, but he knew John. Verse 9. Herod killed John. He must be alive. And Elijah? Word must have spread among Jews. This prepares for Peter’s confession. At a loss. Wanted to meet him.
Ill. Mom used to work at Tennessee Medical Center. Peyton Manning came in, her co-worker had no idea who he was. They all freaked out afterwards. Even being face to face, she didn’t know him. People saw Jesus and still didn’t know him. Confused about who he was.
Arg. This is normal today. Common thread is people not knowing Jesus of Scripture. Pet peeve = taking Jesus and remaking him into their own image. I love teachings, but not repentance. Since he didn’t call out every sin, we can define sin. At that point, give him a different name.
Christ - People didn’t know what to think about Jesus. Jesus establishes that he is the messiah and the savior. He isn’t simply a teacher of moral values, he is the savior of the world! Coming to eliminate sin in each of us.
App. What do we do? Know the real Jesus. Not the fake versions.
Discern false teaching of Jesus.
Read everything about Jesus.
Truth #2: Some forget who Jesus is (10-15)
Exp. People who aren’t close don’t know. Those who are close to him forget. Verse 10-11. Going to Bethsaida. Spoke about the kingdom and cured those in need of healing. Just like he sent the disciples to do. Verse 12. The twelve came to him. Send them away. We need provisions. Desolate place = dry land. Evokes the wilderness journey. God rained manna from heaven. Verse 13-15. You feed them. We don’t have food. 5 loaves and 2 fish. Not enough. 5,000 men. Not including women and children. Sit in groups of 50 each. Grouping like this was normal in Jewish life. Exodus and Deuteronomy. So the people sat. The disciples looked at another impossible situation and forgot who gave them this instruction. He healed many, gave them powers, stopped the storm.
Ill. Obviously the disciples need to be reminded over and over. I have to have reminders. Certain tasks are repeated over and over. I have it set up to remind me every week. My phone, my laptop, and my watch. I will forget and it will dissipate. And it’s my job. I can easily forget about Jesus if I’m not looking.
Arg. This was a picture of the wilderness. Being reminded. We know from John.
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
Christ - Christ - Once again, the disciples fail to realize who they are with: the provider and nourisher. Desolate place reminds of wilderness. Jesus is the bread of life. We know he feeds the 5,000. After, they approach him.
App. What do we do? Believe he can do the impossible.
Remind yourself in his Word.
Be reminded by God’s work.
Truth #3: All who come are satisfied (16-17)
Exp. As we mentioned, we know he feeds them. Verse 16. Early church saw this as precursor for Communion. Same process. Blessed it, break bread, and passes it out. Verse 17. Satisfied = to be satisfied, or filled. Not only satisfied, but leftovers. Twelve baskets of leftovers. One of the commentators said:
The meal provided by Jesus does not “tie the crowd over” until something more substantial can be had. The meal is so sufficient and satisfying that a basket of leftovers remains for each of the disciples. - James Edwards
Ill. Mamaw’s Sunday lunch. Enough food to fill an army. Completely full and she’s still putting mashed taters on your plate. That’s the idea except it wasn’t enough food to feed an army. It was God who can feed an army.
Arg. God could feed the Israelites wondering the wilderness for 40 years. He could sustain Jesus as he fasted for 40 days. God could certainly multiply bread and fish to feed the crowd.
Christ - Reality is that we are hungry. Hungry for what’s real and true. What we are finding is that Jesus satisfies, and overflows.
Ill. Barna study. Gen Z and Millennials now attend church more than any other generation. Because they are searching for truth. Culture has spent so much time warping the truth. They are begging for it.
Christ - Jesus is the truth. He’s the one who nourishes and satisfies. And gives enough to overflow.
App. What do we do? Be satisfied and pour out.
Feed your craving with Jesus. Stop searching elsewhere.
Pour out from the overflow. The Christian walk is living in the overflow of God’s grace.
Conclusion
Know the real Jesus.
